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Special Forces Soldier Used ChatGPT to Plan New Year's Day Bombing Outside Trump Hotel

Jan 7, 2025, 11:12 PM

Las Vegas police have disclosed that a man who exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year's Day used generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, to help plan the attack. The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Army Special Forces soldier Matthew Livelsberger, was found dead at the scene. Authorities discovered a six-page manifesto on his phone, along with ChatGPT search logs indicating that he had researched explosive targets, ammunition speeds, and the legality of fireworks in Arizona. Sheriff Kevin McMahill stated that Livelsberger wrote about experiencing "graphic encounters" from his military service and appeared to have been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Livelsberger believed he was being followed and had initially planned an attack at the Grand Canyon before diverting to Las Vegas. Investigators suspect that the gas and explosives inside the Cybertruck ignited when Livelsberger shot himself, causing the explosion. He was reportedly under the influence of drugs and alcohol while planning the attack and intended only to harm himself. Police have characterized the use of generative AI in planning the attack as a "game-changer" and are sharing information with other law enforcement agencies. The incident has raised concerns about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence tools in criminal activities.